Chocolate-It's What's for Dinner

I needed a quick easy meal fast. I browsed a few recipes. I took a little from some, a little from another, and then still another. Here's what I came up with... Pasta & Beans 6 slices bacon, cut into small pieces 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 15 oz can chick peas, drained 5 oz tuna, drained juice and zest of 1 lemon reserved water from pasta Salt/Pepper Parsley, chopped Parmesan cheese 1lb pasta (orecchiette, shells etc) While the pasta cooks, heat the bacon in a skillet until done. Add garlic and cook until fragrant. Add chick peas and cook for about 5 minutes or until heated through. Add tuna, lemon, and zest. Cook until tuna is heated through. Add salt/pepper (be sure to taste because the bacon might have contributed enough salt). Add pasta and some of the pasta water until you reach the desired consistency. Top with parsley and Parmesan This dish basically came together in the time that it takes to cook the pasta. It can be adapted pretty easily. If you don...

Sometimes when I have a bunch of vegetables around, I make vegetarian chili (I know sacrilegious). Some would not consider this chili - well whatever you would like to call it, it tastes pretty darn good. I know some people are very strict about what they consider chili and recipes can be quite elaborate but this one is not. Most of the ingredients are things that you would have on hand except maybe the mushrooms. I also make a wicked vegetarian taco but alas that is for a different day. Vegetarian Chili 1 medium onion, chopped 1 large carrot, small dice 1 T olive oil 8oz mushrooms (cremini or portabello) 1 T cocoa powder 1 t cumin 1/2 t ancho 1/2 t chili powder (I'm a wimp I know) 1lb 28oz can of whole tomatoes 1lb kidney beans (or cannellini) cheese for serving (cheddar, Monterey jack) Saute onion and carrot with olive oil in a dutch oven. Add a little salt to help it along. Saute until onions start to brown. Meanwhile cut mushrooms into medium si...